Examination of Gerede (Krate？a) Arasta Region In the Context of Socio-Cultural Sustainability

Gerede is a settlement in which crafts such as leather and mohair yarn production were common and where Muslim and non-Muslim population lived together in a closed economy especially during the 18th and 19th centuries Ottoman period. Arasta, a kind of bazaar and craft workshops complex constructed in the 19th century, shows Gerede was one of the crowded and active commercial and residential city. Today’s urbanization, high technology, changing lifestyles and increasing migration made it impossible to sustain these crafts and as a result of that, Arasta has lost its functions partially during in the Republic period. The aim of this study is to examine spatial changes in regard with Arasta and to propose recommendations for preservation and reuse of Arasta premises which are located in the Gerede city centre so as to revive and improve the economy of the region. In this context, spatial structure of Arasta region in Gerede Urban Site was discussed, the potential effect of reviving crafts such as tanner and mohair processing, on tourism and regional economy was examined